Sam Hill, Southern Rockers, American Legion Hall 250, Middleburg Florida 5/15/2021

     In 2011 The Shop Radio came to Jacksonville. I had come to see what Jacksonville had to offer by way of music; and saw a couple of acts, and heard of many more. We got to talk to some locals and heard the story of Lynyrd Skynyrd, and Ronnie's future plans before fate handed them immortality. MCA was Skynyrd's label then, and Jacksonville was under watch because the record companies were all looking-Southern Rock had been recognized as a valid (and large) audience. It would require support; and possibly other artists could be signed. Then, the plane rented in Addison Texas, went down and took the mother of Southern rock acts with it. There was sadness enough to be current, but nature, and record companies, abhor a vacuum. The next step was Molly Hatchet, which rocked us all for a time.

How does this fit with a review for Sam Hill? Well ... There is a vacuum...     

The show was at the American Legion Hall 250 hall in Middleburg, Florida on a good sized stage outside - AL 250 usually has a number of folks on hand , but it became evident toward late afternoon the crowd was getting larger and beginning to anticipate the Sam Hill show. They were treated to how a worldwide video was shot, as Sam Hill queued the cameras and went into "Preacher Man" to film the lip synchs. It was cool to see how that is generally done. After a rousing intro by The Shop Radio's Chris Br, Sam Hill took the stage and launched into "My Way" - This is where the unsuspecting crowd discovered exactly what they were in for *and they got it* as the guitarists Dusty Barber and Duane Johnson dug in for the attack, with vocalist Ray Jett doing it his own way; launching into a story of a wayward woman.  Dusty and Duane (The Double D attack) became a standard thru the evening, as both guitarists played off each other's licks, but their best example would occur later. Both are famous in their own rights, Dusty with Al Green and David Allen Coe, and Duane with Shantytown, famous for those southern licks. Ray fronted the band in a very folksy manner, as he greeted them and explained his attire. Ray tore up his knee, he explained and immediately blamed  keyboardist Andy Orth, but we would not be explaining that part. We will tell you we blame Andy for a lot of things he doesn't know about, but he is a keyboard wizard, and was a part of Molly Hatchet. He stood and delivered on this show, and his best showing was yet to come. Sam Hill toured us through Preacher Man, this time full vibe. I've always loved this song, and have had access to the songs as they were built for the part year and a half. Preacher Man is a perfect single, and I was singing silently from stage left. I did not want some stray mic picking me up! The set ended with the full version of "The Best of Me", with Andy Orth's rousing keyboard intro, and the introduction of the newest member of the Sam Hill Family-A beautiful backup singer with the voice of an angel whose name is Tramayne. Tramayne added her voice over the top of Andy's intro, and the crowd loved it. They saw a new dimension to Sam Hill, and the audience got their ears melted with "The Best of Me", from the debut LP.  The band left the stage for the evening, and I took the stage to stir the crowd while the band decided their encore. Stewart "Doc" Dalrymple and percussionist Eric Mason took the stage, and the snare rolls for "Right here in the Room" a moving tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd started. This had a surprise ending as they went into "Free Bird" where Dusty and Duane just kicked ass in a way not seen onstage in recent memory. I was taken to 2011, a song by Mary Ann Hawkins, Boys in the Band - "And I heard Free Bird play'in in the wind" and I damn near cried. 

Watch this band-they are just getting started.

- Chris Br